Hair loss

Hair loss can affect just your scalp or your entire body. It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or medications. Anyone men, women and children can experience this condition.

Baldness typically refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp. Hereditary alopecia with age is the most common cause of this disorder. Some people prefer to let their baldness run its course untreated and unhidden. Others may cover it up with hairstyles, makeup, hats or scarves. And still others choose one of the treatments available to prevent the development of the disease and to restore growth.

Before pursuing hair loss treatment, you should search the cause of the disease.

Causes

Most people normally shed 50 to 100 hairs a day. This usually doesn’t cause noticeable thinning of scalp hair because new hair is growing in at the same time. Hair loss occurs when this cycle of hair growth and shedding is disrupted or when the hair follicle is destroyed and replaced with scar tissue.

The exact cause of hair loss may not be fully understood, but it’s usually related to one or more of the following factors:

Family history (heredity)

Hormonal changes

Medical conditions

Medications

Family history (heredity)

The most common cause of hair loss is a hereditary condition called male-pattern baldness or female-pattern baldness. It usually occurs gradually and in predictable patterns — a receding hairline and bald spots in men and thinning hair in women.

Heredity also affects the age at which you begin to lose hair, the rate of hair loss and the extent of baldness. Pattern baldness is most common in men and can begin as early as puberty. This type of hair loss may involve both hair thinning and miniaturization (hair becomes soft, fine and short).

Hormonal changes and medical conditions

A variety of conditions can cause hair loss, including:

Hormonal changes. Hormonal changes and imbalances can cause temporary hair loss. This could be due to pregnancy, childbirth or the onset of menopause. Hormone levels are also affected by the thyroid gland, so thyroid problems may cause hair loss.

Scalp infections. Infections, such as ringworm, can invade the hair and skin of your scalp, leading to scaly patches and hair loss. Once infections are treated, hair generally grows back.

Other skin disorders. Diseases that cause scarring alopecia may result in permanent loss at the scarred areas. These conditions include lichen planus, some types of lupus and sarcoidosis.

Hair-pulling disorder. This condition, also called trichotillomania (trik-o-til-o-MAY-nee-uh), causes people to have an irresistible urge to pull out their hair, whether it’s from the scalp, the eyebrows or other areas of the body.

Medications

Hair loss can be caused by drugs used for cancer, arthritis, depression, heart problems, high blood pressure and birth control. Intake of too much vitamin A may cause it as well.

Other causes of hair loss.

Radiation therapy to the head. The hair may not grow back the same as it was before.

A trigger event. Many people experience a general thinning of hair several months after a physical or emotional shock. This type of alopecia is temporary. Examples of trigger events include sudden or excessive weight loss, a high fever, surgery, or a death in the family.

Certain hairstyles and treatments. Excessive hairstyling or hairstyles that pull your hair tight, such as pigtails or cornrows, can cause traction alopecia. Hot oil hair treatments and permanents can cause inflammation of hair follicles that leads to lose hair. If scarring occurs, baldness could be permanent.

Risk factors

A number of factors can increase your risk of hair loss, including:

Family history

Age

Poor nutrition

Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes and lupus

Stress

Prevention

These tips may help you avoid preventable types of hair loss:

Eat a nutritionally balanced diet.

Avoid tight hairstyles, such as braids, buns or ponytails.

Avoid compulsively twisting, rubbing or pulling your hair.

Treat your hair gently when washing and brushing. A wide-toothed comb may help prevent pulling out hair.

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2 comments on “Hair loss”

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